Improvement in bee-hives



3 Sheets-,Sheen 2.

G. W. GALE.

Bee-Hive.

Patented SeptfS,v 1878.

U U V U u N PE En :more LITHOGRAPHER wAsn New u c YN o. 207,731.

3 Sheets-Sheets 3 '0. W. GALE.

Bee-Hive.

No. 207,731. Patented sept. 3,1878.

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l ATTORN EYS N.PETERS. PHOTD-LITHDGRAPHER, wASmNGTUN D C UNrrED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES lV. GALE, OF OSAVATOMIE, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEE-HIVES.

Specification forming part oi' Letters Patent No. 207,731, dated September 3, 1878; application filed May 4, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it' known that I, CHARLES GALE, of Osawatomie, in the county of Miami and State of Kansas, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Bee-Hives 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this speciication, and tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a perspective view of my bee-hive. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 3 is a part-sectional front view. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of frame, and Fig. 5 view of cap.

My invention relates to the construction of bee-hives; and consists in certain improve ments thereon, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate my invention.

A represents the body of the hive or broodchamber, with base B projecting forward in front, as shown. The bottom of the broodchamber A is formed of a sliding screen, C, and the bottom D of the base under said screen is also made sliding, so as to be drawn out at will. By these means the beekeeper is enabled to clean, air, and feed his colony with safety, and without endangering it to robberbees, millers, mice, or any other vermin that would otherwise infest or destroy it.

To air or feed the colony, the bottom D is drawn, leaving the screen or screen-drawer C closed. For feeding, place the feed on top of the bottom D, and then close the same, after .which the screen G is drawn to the last bar,

which will entirely close the slot for the screen, keeping the hive tight and giving the bees an open bottom to the feed.

To clean the hive, the screen C is iirst removed, cleaned, and readjusted, and then the bottom D is manipulated in the same manner.

To air the hive, simply draw the bottom D, leaving the screen C in place.

F F represent the comb -frames, made in rectangular form. The top bar of each frame j is, on its under side, provided with a central tongue, a, which runs the entire length of said is a perspective bar. wide or deep, and leaves a space, b, on each side, forming a comb-line, which enables the bees to build cells on both sides of the tongue before reaching its lower edge, which keeps the comb its proper thickness from top to bottom of frame.

. The frames F F are on both sides provided with screw-eyes c c, which tit upon vertical rods d d, arranged at the front and back of the hive, said rods being held by staples a: :c at the bottom. v After the frames are put on the wires cl d, hinged plates ff are let down, iitting over the upper ends of said rods and holding them to their proper places. By the arrangement of these parts the frames can be drawn at any time, and it gives the bees ample room to pass between the frames and the rods and between the rods and the body of the hive, thereby preventing `them from fastening the frames to the hive. I

By drawing the first frame the others can be moved sidewise; and should any of them be fastened, drawing in that direction will sepa rate them, so that they can be readily removed at the top.

Each frame F is provided with a removable comb-line cap, G, of tin or other suitable ma terial, extending the entire length of the frame and projecting downward a suitable distance. These caps compel the bees to build their comb straight, and prevent them from making a surplus of drone-comb, which is always detrimental to a colony.

In the side of each cap G are apertures t, of any desired form, which give the bees a chance to work through them. In a full-sized hive there will be three-eighths of an inch space, for the bees to pass while working.

On top of the frames F is placed a movable glass plate, I, and also a screen, H, covering the top of the hive. The glass plate is for summer use during the honey season, to prea vent the bees from entering the cap.

When the body of the hive is iilled the honeybox is adjusted and the glass plate I drawn out and placed on top of the boX, there to remain until the box is full and ready to be taken off. The glass plate is then readjusted on top of the frames, and allowed to remain till late iu the season.

This tongue is thin and comparatively'` The screen H is for winter use, and will allow the moisture of the bees to pass to the top of the hive-cap.

J represents the cap of the hive, inside of which is fitted a wool mat, M, which absorbs the dampness arising from the colony during the winter, keeping it dry and warm. The cap is provided with ventilating-openings t', in which are inserted tubes h, projecting within the cap and provided at the inner end with perforated sheet metal or wire-gauze. The outer end of each tube h is provided with a plate or flange, L, which is fastened to the outside of the cap, and on this plate is formed a box, 1, with hinged cover L2, as shown. This ventilator keeps the hive cool in summer-time and prevents the rain, during storms, from driving in, as the cover L? is hinged at the top, and may be set at any angle desired. This cover should be closed in winter.

The honey-box is composed of a series of rect'- angular frames, O O, which are held together by means of hooks N N, as shown, or in any other suitable manner. The frame at each end of the box is provided with a sliding glass plate, l?, which can be drawn out when required# The frames all rest upon cleats m m, and between pins a n thereon. One end frame is, at the bottom, provided with an adjustable plate, It, having vertical slots, and fastened by screws 7c, for closing the space below the honey-box when the glass plate I is removed.

Between the frames O, composing the honeybox, are suitable openings at the bottom for the passage of the bees, and the sides of said frames are beveled to admit the point of a knife, for easily separating the frames, as required.

In the projecting portion of the base B is the miller-trap, which consists of a chamber, S, beneath and in front of the lower bee-entrance, p. A slot, s, is cut in the front board deep enough to admit a miller but not a bee. This slot is covered by a plate, V. The miller passes under this plate and through the slot s, and then through a slot, s', into the box or chamber S, he being attracted by the light through a small screen, W, at the front of said chamber.

The hive is also provided with an upper beeentrance, 19', below which is a hinged alighting-board, Y, which may be raised and suspendedA by a hook, t, for use, or dropped down when not desired for use.

One side of the hive A is provided with a falling door, A', and a sliding glass plate, B', arranged insidethereof, which assists the beekeeper to examine the bees, and also enables him to hive them from that point, if desired.

Havingthus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the comb-frames F, having eye-screws e in their side pie-ces, the vertical rods d, staples and the hin ged plates f, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The adjustable plate R, arranged on one end frame of the honey-box, for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my naine in the presence of two witnesses. y

CHARLES WM. GALE.

Vitnesses H. B. SMITH, L. B. MAYNARD. 

